St James's Palace, located only a short distance from Buckingham Palace remains the official home of the Monarchy (as it is officially the Court of St. James) yet is only used for the occasional reception and houses many offices and apartments. Does anyone know why it is still the official home of the monarchy and if there is any public access to the Chapel Royal and Reception Rooms?

St James's Palace, located only a short distance from Buckingham Palace remains the official home of the Monarchy (as it is officially the Court of St. James) yet is only used for the occasional reception and houses many offices and apartments. Does anyone know why it is still the official home of the monarchy and if there is any public access to the Chapel Royal and Reception Rooms?

Saying the "Court of St. James" sounds a lot more classy and refined than saying the "Court of Buckingham!"

Thanks Warren for those pictures. It's the first time I've seen an overhead shot of this palace. So it looks like Clarence House is on the corner of it. I wonder what that large square building is to the left of the palace(?)http://wccampbell.com/albums/London2..._001.sized.jpg
I have to say looking at this picture St. James isn't a very "pretty" palace. And it looks like it might be one of the oldest. Maybe they're just not able to refurbish the outside because it's all brick.
Personally I think Buckingham Palace looks much nicer.

This is going to be tricky to explain, but hopefully I will make sense!

In the aerial photo of St. James Palace there is a large square portion of the palace to the lower left with its own courtyard. It appears that the clock tower with sentries is on the upper right side of this portion of the palace. Is this correct?

Then, there is a large "L" shaped section moving off of the square portion to the upper left and a smaller "L" shaped sectio moving off the square portion to the upper right. (This second "L" portion on the upper right branches off from what I think is the clock tower.)

On the top of the L portion on the upper left, it appears that this portion ends in a large white rather than red brick section. Is that Clarence House?

Or, just above this is another large white building with a roof that is partially green and partially glass looking. Is that Clarence House?

If Clarence House is the former then it is defintely physically part of St. James' Palace. If it is the later then it simply stands rather near the palace but is not physically part of the palace.

Oh, I justed noticed that the "L" section on the upper right leads to another portion of the palace. This portion seems to have a large square or rectangular building on the right and this portion also seems to end in a large white building. Is that Clarence House?

I don't think the Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have private residences in London. They probably have some privacy in the huge house in Windsor owned by their father. Prince Andrew's London residence is in Buckingham Palace. They probably have bedrooms as part of their fathers home there.
Princes William and Harry live in Clarence House, but it's a big place (over and acre of square footage). They probably have private entrances.